Why I Disable Ratings · 4:17am Jun 14th, 2019
I get asked this fairly frequently, so I'm putting this into a journal entry.
It's really just a personal preference on my part. People have different tastes and different talent levels. And while the rating system was usually kind to me before there was an ability to disable them (several of my stories had 100% ratings, and most were in the 90s), I still don't think there should be a 'dislike' button. Just because I dislike something doesn't make it bad, and just because 300 people like it doesn't necessarily make it good (though it does make it popular).
I know I doom myself to never make the featured box, but I'm okay with that. I'm sure a lot of people are hesitant to click on my stories due to the 'ratings disabled' notice, but hopefully they get a better than expected reading experience for taking that chance. I'm not the best author on this site by a wide margin, but I like to think I'm an adequate one. ...Please let me continue thinking that. 
I figure if a fic has 100 views and only 2 likes, it's pretty much the same thing as it having 2 likes & 28 dislikes. At the same time, leaving a dislike without explaining why doesn't help the writer improve. I figure almost everyone on this site has poured a lot of time & effort into their stories, and who am I to cast judgment on something the author may be quite fond of? Conversely, sometimes there are trollfics or controversial stories where the author is actively encouraging downvotes. I refuse to give them the satisfaction (or the attention they crave). I'm happy to upvote though.
Anyways, that's just why I do what I do. I tend to be the dissenting opinion more often than not, so I don't expect most people to agree with me. There's method to my madness (or perhaps madness to my methods? 
). I'm not looking for a debate, I just want to offer an explanation for one of my many quirks.
I had no idea this was possible!
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Enjoyment should come from the experience, not the gratification.
My philosophy is Write for fun, never for glory.
Besides comments are far more fun, than a green light.
5121235
Writing for fun is how I look at it too. I write what I want to read. If others like it, that's great, and that's why I'm sharing my stories on this site. Comments offering constructive criticism on how to improve is always appreciated, but a simple 'dislike' doesn't help at all.
Glad I could help you out!
5121272
I know exactly!
I prefer if a conversation about the story was started or discussed.
A simple green light or red, doesn't really help drive anything other than gratification.
But again, thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I've already switched mine to disabled ratings.